MANKATO — For the cynical, skeptical southern Minnesotan, the annual Women and Spirituality Conference at Minnesota State University is like the motherlode of fodder.

With work sessions with titles such as, “Channeling Loved Ones,” and “Discovering Your Angel Essence,” or “Embracing the Moon,” or even “Discovering the Universe Mother Spirit,” it’s not much of a stretch to wonder, in some cases, if this stuff is for real.

That’s sort of how Muriel Gunderson of Harmony, Minn., approached things when she went to “Channeling Loved Ones.”

“I’m always skeptical,” she said.

But she says that after instructor Ronna Boyd described her mother-in-law “to a T,” including details she couldn’t possibly have known, she left a believer.

“I was hoping to have someone (from beyond the grave) come visit me,” she said. “And I was lucky.”

Every year at this time, the best-kept secret in weekend conferences brings between 600 and 1,000 people to Minnesota State University for the Women in Spirituality conference.

More than 100 presenters who submitted proposals for workshops were on campus Saturday and Sunday, with workshops spread out across campus.

Attendance this year was a little down, conference coordinator Katie Boman said, which she attributes to the economy and gas prices. Attendance this year is closer to 600.

Speaking of skeptics, Boman happens to be one herself. But whatever she may feel personally about a given workshop topic, she puts more stock in what the people say when they come out it. If going to a workshop changed someone’s life or simply challenged their beliefs a little, then it’s worth it.

“To see all these women together in a place that’s positive and powerful is amazing,” Boman said.

A roving look at a handful of sessions revealed an interesting cross-section of what the conference offers.

In a room on the second floor of the student union, a group of women — each holding an oversized, randomly chosen tarot card — got some insight into the relationship one of them was involved in. As an expert interpreted the cards and surmised why each was chosen, they all seemed to match, uncannily so, the ups and downs and quirks of her volatile relationship with a man who “had some growing up to do.”

Downstairs in Ostrander Auditorium a woman is trying to “read” a woman’s spirits. After several unsuccessful attempts, she gets it right.

In Morris Hall a group of about 20 are learning how to make personal altars in their homes.

And outside, another group gets a lesson on tree hugging — literally.

Instructor Cindy Miller, after speaking with the group in a classroom, takes the group outside for some tree meditation.

“Close your eyes,” she tells them, as the exercise begins. “Imagine you have roots sprouting from your feet, moving down, down into the earth, down into the core of the earth ... Feel it up into your knees, feel the limbs reaching out of you and up into the sky, up into the atmosphere, into space, feel the pulsing energy of the universe.”

She then has them do individual meditations with specific trees. One woman curls her arm around a tree trunk and leans against it, eyes closed. Another tree has five people around it, each with both hands pressing against it. It’s slightly reminiscent of that photo of the flag raising on Iwo Jima.

Anna Vaith of Racine, Minn., was among the tree group. She said she’d hoped it would have also discussed some more advanced techniques, as she already knew most of what was done.

This was her third conference. She liked it so much she even brought her mom, Gunderson from the “Channeling Loved Ones” workshop.

“This gives me a chance at topics I don’t have much access to,” she said.

The conference, she said, gives her an opportunity to learn at a place full of strong, intelligent women.

She also liked the chance to spend the weekend with mom.